History of
Pei Mei

>Foundation

 

 

Founder Pei Mei

Beginning in the 17th century the Shaolin Temple underwent a series of internal crises and power struggles, linked to the political upheavals of the time. The sacking of the Temple in 1647 was due in large part to rise to power of the new Ching dynasty. Having acceded to the throne three years prior to this event, the first Ching Emperor wanted to end the existence of autonomous armies roaming the country of China. This first sacking of the Temple, seen as a source of inspiration and real control of these armies, led to the massacre of numerous monks, the beginning of the end of the Shaolin Temple, and spread of Shaolin techniques as many surviving monks fled to Southern China into smaller religious institutions.

By the 18th century the Shaolin style (or lineage) was represented by five Grand Masters, also known in popular Chinese culture as the “Invincible Five”. The leader of these five Hong Mei (Red Eyebrows), patriarch of the Temple, died without naming a successor.

The five Grand Masters known as the « Invincible Five » • Grand Master Pei Mei (White Eyebrows), also known under the name of Dao Nhien, the Taoist. (His real name was Chu Long Tuyen). • Grand Master Nou Mei (Ng Mui), Nun who practiced the style of White Crane. She taught Yin Wing Chun and Hoang Hoa Bao, founders of the two lineages of present day Wing Chun. • Grand Master Phung Dao Duc who lived for many years at the foot of the Er-Mei Mountain. • Grand Master Chi Thien Su, who continued to practice Orthodox Southern Shaolin. • Grand Master Mieu Hien, the only laymen among the five who also practiced Southern Shaolin style.

The Alliance with the Emperor

Chi Thien Su was chosen to be the new Grand Master, to represent the Shaolin Temple. Grand Master Pei Mei did not accept this decision. Since the arrival of the Manchu’s to power the Chinese nationalists dreamed of overthrowing the regime viewed as a foreign aggressor and occupier and restoring a native Chinese Emporor. Partisans of the old Ming dynasty, having lost all their power, fermented and financed many revolts throughout the country. Most of the inheritors of the Shaolin Temple found themselves on the side of these nationalists. However the “Invincible” Grand Master Pei Mei preferred a good foreign government to a corrupt Chinese one, and thus allied himself with the forces of Emperor Chian Long (1736-1796).

Grand Master Pei Mei thus left his native land and lived the life of an itinerant monk. One day he settled on Mount Er Mei, the sacred Taoist Mountain, and undertook the study of this religion. At that time, the Emporor requested his help at the ehad of his army . With 50,000 men under him, Grand Master Pei Mei assaulted the last vestiges of Shaolin tradition, the Shaolin Temple itself in Henan. In order to avoid a blood bath, he challenged in a dual the “Invincible” Grand Master Chi Thien Su (who practiced the iron head technique) defending the Temple. At the end of a gruelling hand to hand fight, Grand Master Pei Mei broke the neck of Chi Thien Su with a movement that has remained ever since one of the signatures of the style.

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